The Sense Home Energy Monitor is a convenient tech-enabled option for homeowners that want a detailed understanding of their electricity use. Install the Sense monitor to your electricity panel and, with the help of an app, you’ll know which appliances are in use, how much you’ve used those appliances over time, and how you can reduce your electricity bill.
Continue readingSolar power as a home improvement strategy
When you make improvements to your home, it’s smart to take into consideration how they will impact your home’s value. The conventional wisdom from HGTV and home improvement magazines is that updating your kitchen, renovating your bathroom, or building an addition are the smartest ways to increase the value of your property. But there’s another home improvement that you may not realize adds to your property’s value: installing a solar energy system on your roof.
Continue readingHow do I claim the solar tax credit (ITC)? Form 5695 instructions
If you’re considering solar, you’ve probably heard about the federal solar tax credit, also known as the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC). If you have a solar system on your property, you’ve probably heard about the federal solar tax credit, also known as the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC). The ITC makes solar more affordable for homeowners and businesses by granting a dollar-for-dollar tax deduction equal to 26% of the total cost of a solar energy system. There’s plenty of information out there about the value of the ITC, but figuring out how to actually claim the credit when it comes time to file your taxes is another story. In this article, we’ll walk you through the instructions step by step from figuring out if you’re eligible to completing Form 5695 to adding it to Schedule 3 and Form 1040.
Continue readingSunTegra solar shingles: a solar roof tile option for your home
Homeowners across the country have their eye on Elon Musk’s Tesla Solar Roof, a much-heralded innovation for the solar energy industry. However, there are already roof-integrated solar panels available on the market, also known as solar shingles. SunTegra is one of two major companies producing and installing solar shingles in the United States.
Continue readingSolar panel insurance: does solar increase your home insurance?
Millions of homes have solar installed on their roofs. Investing in a solar PV system has a variety of benefits: solar panels will reduce your electricity bills by generating electricity on-site for 25 years or more. A solar energy system can also increase your home value by tens of thousands of dollars. Home solar is a significant investment in your home, which leaves many homeowners wondering: do I need to get solar panel insurance or will my system be covered by my home insurance?
Continue readingGoing off-grid with solar: what does it mean and how much will it cost? (Part 2)
This is Part 2 of a two-part series that explores the economics of going completely off-grid with solar. Part 1 focuses on what it actually means to go “off-grid” and how to start thinking about calculating the costs for cutting the cord with your utility. Part 2 discusses two real-world examples of sizing an off-grid solar energy system, along with the feasibility of going through with an off-grid solution. Check out Part 1 here.
Continue readingIndependent solar monitoring services: what you need to know
Producing solar energy relies on having working, efficient equipment, and there are a number of factors that can reduce your system’s effectiveness. Shade, dirt, damaged parts (such as wiring, inverters, or panels), and more can all cause your system to generate less electricity than it’s capable of.
Continue readingTesla solar panels: the complete overview
Tesla’s plans to make solar panels have been known for years. The company is constructing a factory in Buffalo, NY, specifically to produce Tesla solar panels and the Tesla Solar Roof, but until recently not much more was known about their plans.
Continue readingSmartflower solar: the complete solar flower review
The Smartflower solar flower is an all-in-one ground-mounted solar system with a tracker that follows the sun. However, it doesn’t look like the solar panels you might be used to. Learn all about the product, how it compares to other solar options, and whether you should consider one for your home in our Smartflower solar review.
Continue readingThe ITC was extended (again)! What you need to know in 2021
On December 21, 2020, Congress passed the omnibus spending and COVID relief bill, and on Sunday, December 27, 2020, President Trump finally signed it into law. In addition to keeping the lights on in our government and providing much needed financial relief for businesses and people alike who have been impacted by COVID, the 5,000+ page, end-of-year spending bill also provided a ray of bright light for the solar industry: an extension of the solar ITC. Here’s what you need to know about how the ITC extension impacts your solar project.
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